Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (September 13, 2013) – Sophomore
Lester Franco (Bay Shore, N.Y.), who recorded a goal in the fifth minute of the game, helped see the men's soccer squad of Molloy College to its first win of the season as they held off the Chargers of the University of New Haven, 1-0. The Lions improve to 1-2 on the young season, while the Chargers fell to 0-3-1.
The first part of the opening half saw the Lions hold the majority of the possession. They were rewarded for their vivacious charge and pressing play with a goal in the fifth minute. Junior
Joey Pinto (Lynbrook, N.Y.) made a great run down the right side of the field. He subsequently sent in a low cross that was met with a brilliant flick-on by senior
Dan Brown (Queens, N.Y.), who teed up Franco scoring the Lions' first goal of the season.
The Lions kept up the pressure throughout the first half outshooting the Chargers, 7-3. Four of the shots came in the last eight minutes, forcing three good saves from New Haven goalkeeper James Pyatsky. Freshman
Nyder Chardonnette (Uniondale, N.Y.) had the best chance when Brown sent in a cross from the right. However, the Uniondale native could not get a toe on the ball.
The second half saw little action. The best chance fell to senior midfielder
Tom Garcia (Westbury, N.Y.). He had an outside-the-foot shot from outside the box to beat the keeper, but only to be denied by the framework. Both teams had many shot attempts: seven to six in favor of the Lions, but Molloy was the only team to test the opposing keeper. The hosts forced Pyatsky to make a pair of saves in the second half.
First-time goalkeeper senior
Mario Gagliano (Manhasset, N.Y.), who filled in for an injured
Justin Corke (Valley Stream, N.Y.), saw little action over his 90 minutes between the pipes. He did, however, make convincing snags on corner kicks.
For the Chargers, Pyatsky made five saves in goal.
Head Coach
Danny Longo and the Lions return to action on Monday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. when they host Dominican (N.Y.) College in Rockville Centre, N.Y.
